Mental Floss: How Meditation is Like Brushing Your Teeth

A colleague challenged me the other day while we were waiting for the elevator about the value of meditation. She gave me a very hard time. “I don’t understand why you positive psychologists get your undies in a bunch about meditation,” she said, “I tried it and I think it is the stupidest thing in the world. Stop your mind — and breathe.” “Well,” I began, “it really isn’t just about trying to stop your mind. Often it is about breathing, but I really think if you believe it is stupid it probably isn’t going to work.” “See — you have an answer for everything. So if I think it is going to be stupid, then it is going to be stupid. You always put it back on the person. If meditation is going to work, why do I have to believe in it? Why doesn’t it just work?” “How often have you tried to meditate?” I asked, trying to keep from responding. “Twice,” she answered. “Once about four years ago for about six minutes. Most wasted six minutes of my life. Nothing happened. It was such BS — and then again yesterday. I read an article that said you could meditate about two or three minutes two or three times a day and that would have an effect. How stupid. How could doing anything a couple of times a day for two minutes help with anything?” The elevator came and the two of us got in. I now had a captive audience. “Well, actually, it does work,” I began my argument. “It is the regularity of doing it that helps. Doing it for t...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: General Habits Happiness Mental Health and Wellness Mindfulness Motivation and Inspiration Proof Positive Brushing Teeth Brushing Your Teeth Bs Bullshit Captive Audience Colleague Elevator Flashing Hard Time Meditation Me Source Type: blogs